Spike



July so, 1940. v. v. QARMSTRONG I 2,209,55

SPIKE Filed April 25, 1959 s Sheets-Sheet 1 ll, W6

, f i i--- B'IIIUHI July so, 1940.

v. c. ARMSTRONG 2,209,552

SPIKE Filed April 25; 1939 5 Shets-Sheet 2 y 30, 1940- v. c. ARMSTRONG 209,552

' July 30, 19 0- I I c ARMSTRONG ssss E 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 &

I x 3mm u a Jlrmszror July 30,1940.

v. c. ARMSTRONG 2,209,552

' SPIKE Patented July 30, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE to Poor &Company, poration of Delaware New York, N. Y., a cor- Application April25, 1939, Serial No. 269,988

13 Claims.

This invention relates to a novel spike of the so-called elastic orresilient type particularly intended for use to yieldingly but firmlyhold railway rails, either directly upon cross ties or upon abrasionplates interposed between the ties and the rails, and permitting therail wave motion of the rail to freely pass over the tie without theundesirable pumping of the latter in the road bed.

A general object of the invention is to provide a spike of the typereferred to having a strong, stiff shank to effectively resist bendingduring and after driving and to possess the required rail holding power,and further having a rail flange engaging and holding arm which, insteadof being so inherently rigid and so rigidly connected with the shank asto require the tie to move vertically as a unit with the rail, with saidconsequent tie pumping action, is either so inherently resilient, or soresiliently connected with the shank, or both, so inherently resilientand so resiliently connected with the shank, as efiectively to hold therail and yet permit the same to move vertically relative to the tie forthe purpose indicated.

A special object of the invention is to provide a practical, eflicientspike of the character stated embodying a construction such that it maybe manufactured readily and easily at low cost.

Another special object of the invention is to provide a spike of thetype mentioned including a head portion which is exposed to be struckfor driving of the spike and which is practically rigid with the shank,so that the spike may be driven with practically the same facility as anordinary spike.

Another special object of the invention is to provide a spike of thecharacter mentioned embodying a portion disposed outwardly of the shankthat may contact with the upper face of a tie, or tie plate, to preventexcessive driving of the spike and to support the spike against beingcanted outwardly from its operative position.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will become morefully apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, thesame consists in a spike embodying the novel combination and arrangementof features as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated inthe accompanying drawings and defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which are illustrative of differentpractical forms of the improved spike and wherein like characters ofreference denote corresponding parts in related views:

Figure 1 is a sectional view through a portion of a tie, tie plate andrail, illustrating one practical form of the present spike operativelyassociated therewith. Figure 2 is a top plan View of the constructionshown in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the construction shown in Fig. l.

' Figures 4 and 5 are detail views illustrating variations of theconstruction shown in Fig. 1-.

Figures 6 to 10 are views similar to Figures 1 to 5, respectively,illustrating another practical form of the present spike.

Figures 11 to 13 are views similar to Figures 1 to 3, respectively,illustrating another practical form of the present spike.

Figures 14 to 17 are views similar to Figures 1 to 3, respectively,illustrating another practical form of the present spike; and

Figures 18 to 20 are views similar to Figures 1 to 3, respectively,illustrating still another practical form of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, it will be observed that, accordingto all forms of the invention, the-present spike includes a shank A anda rail flange overlying, engaging and holding arm B joined with theshank through a resilient loop formation C. In a spike of this typedesigned for the particular purpose, it is required that the shank-Ahave not less than a certain minimum cross sectional area in order topossess sufiicient strength and stiffness effectively to resist bend ingforces imposed thereon during and after driving and. to have requiredholding power. In the case of a spike of the type mentioned designed forrail holding purposes, it has been found that, if the spike is formedthroughout from stock material corresponding in cross sectional area tothe required cross sectional area of the shank, and if such stockmaterial is bent to form the loop C and the arm B, the arm and loop areso stiff as not to permit vertical movement of the rail D relative tothe tie E, but to require the tie to move vertically as a unit with therail. The result is that, under the wave motion imparted to the rails bythe passage of rolling stock thereover, the ties are caused to partakeof an undesirable pumping action in the road bed. According to thepresent invention, for a strong, stiif shank A of any given crosssection, the stock comprising the arm B and the loop C is of materiallylesser cross section. I Thus, while the shank of the present spike isstrong and stiff,

the arm, while suffi ciently stifily joined with the shank toeffectively hold the rail, nevertheless is suf iciently resilient topermit the rail to move Vertically relative to the tie. Undesirablepumping of the tie in the road bed thereby is avoided.

In order that the present spike may be manufactured practically andeconomically, it is formed from stock bar material which, in crosssectional area, may be one half the cross sectional area of the shank ofthe spike. The bar stock used preferably is of rectangular shape incross section and preferably is twice as wide as it is thick. Thus, if apiece of the bar stock is doubled upon itself, or if two pieces of thebar stock are disposed in side to side relationship, the resulting crosssection is rectangular.

In accordance with the invention, the shank of the present spike iscomposed of two layers or plies of the bar stock from which the spike isformed and a portion of either or both of the plies is suitably bent toprovide the arm B and the loop C through which said arm is joined withthe shank. Thus, the arm B has far greater resiliency than would be thecase if the bar stock used equaled in cross sectional area the crosssectional area of the shank.

Of course, the bar stock used might be of other than rectangular crosssection and might have a width more or less than twice its thickmess,but since a shank of square cross section is desirable, the bar stockused preferably is twice as wide as thick so that twolayers or plies ofthe bar afford a square cross section.

According to the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 ofthe drawings, a bar of stock material, spring steel for example, ofrectangular cross section and having a width twice its thickness, isbent at an intermediate point upon itself to provide the two-ply shank Aof rectangular cross section composed of the inner and outer plies i0and l l, respectively.

The shank A may be of any suitable length and at its lower or enteringend may be tapered to provide an entering point, as illustrated in Fig.1, or may be left blunt as illustrated in Fig. 4. In either case, theouter ply I l, at the upper end of the shank, is bent first outwardly,as indicated at I2, then downwardly, as indicated at 13, then outwardly,upwardly and inwardly, as indicated at I4, to provide the resilient loopC, and then is extended inwardly across and at one side of the shank A asuitable distance beyond the inner face of said shank to provide therail flange overlying, engaging and holding arm B.

The inner ply I 0 may be terminated in any suitable manner at the top ofthe shank A. Preferably, however, said ply l 0, at the top of the shank,is bent outwardly into overlying relationship tothe outwardly bent topportion I2 of the outer ply l, as indicated at [5, to provide a strong,stiff, two-ply driving head. Appropriately, the top of this driving headmay be disposed above, or not lower than, the top of the loop C, toreduce the likelihood of striking said loop with a maul during drivingof the spike.

Obviously, instead of the spike being formed from a single length of barstock, the inner and outer plies of its shank A may be comprised byseparate bar sections, as indicated in Fig. 5. In that case, the barsections may be loose or separable relative to each other, or they maybe welded or otherwise suitably connected together.

Preferably the bottom of the loop C is disposed to permit optionalcontact with the top face of the tie plate F, or with the top face ofthe tie E, depending upon whether a tie plate is or is not used, eitherbefore or after engagement of the arm B with the top face of the flangeof the rail D, thereby to support the upper end portion of the shank Aagainst undesirable outward canting and to intensify the holding powerof the arm B should that be desirable.

According to the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 6 to 10 ofthe drawings, the construction is generally the same as the constructionillustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, except that the loop 0 is formed to becontracted by upward movement of the arm B, rather than expanded byupward movement of such arm, as is the case according to the Figs. 1 to5 construction. In other words, according to the Figs. 6 to 10 form ofthe invention, the outer ply H of the shank A is bent first outwardly,as indicated at [2, and then downwardly as indicated at I3 as in thecase of the outer ply ll of the Figs. 1 to 5 form of the invention, butinstead of being then extended outwardly, upwardly and inwardly toprovide the loop C in accordance with the Figs. 1 to 3 showing, isdirected inwardly and up-- wardly into a coil l6 and again is similarlycoiled,

as indicated at IT, and finally is extended inwardly across the shank Ato provide the arm B. See Fig. 8. The loop C thus comprises'two coils,but it may comprise only a single coil or more than two coils, dependingupon the amount of resiliency desired. For any single loop, the arm ofthe Figs. 6 to 10 form of the invention is less resilient than the armof the Figs. 1 to 5 form of the invention, assuming loops of the samesize, because more force is required to contract than to expand theloop.

As the Figs. 6 to 10 form of the invention is, or, may be, the same inother respects as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, or as described inconnection with Figs. 1 to 5, it is deemed unnecessary to repeat inconnection with Figs. 6 to 10 what has been stated in connection withFigs. 1 to 5.

According tothe form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 11 to 13, theconstruction is the same as the Figs. 1 to 5 construction, except thatthe loop C, instead of comprising only a single coil of large diameteras in the Figs..l to 5 construction, comprises two side by side coils l8and- !9, respectively, of somewhat smaller diameter. The tops of thesecoils are disposed well below the driving head of the spike and theirbottoms are disposed to permit optional contact with the top of the tieplate F, or with the top of the tie E, as the case may be, only aftertightening of the spike following its initial application with the arm Bcontacting with the upper face of the rail flange. In other respects theFigs. 11 to 13 form of the invention is, or may be, the same asillustrated, or as described in connection with, Figs. 1 to 5.

According to the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 14 to 16,the construction is the same as illustrated in Figs. 11 to 13, exceptthat the inner ply l 0 of the shank A, after being bent, as indicated atI5 into overlying relationship to the outwardly directed portion of theouter ply W at the top of the shank to provide the twoply driving head,is coiled and extended in the same manner as the outer ply of the Figs.11 to 13 construction toprovide a second resilient loop 0 and a secondrail flange overlying, engaging and holding arm B. As shown, the loop Cand its arm B are disposed at one side of the shank A and the loop C andits arm B are disposed at the opposite side. of said shank. In otherrespects'the Figs. 14 to 16 form of the invention is, or may be, thesame as illustrated, or as described, in connection with the other formsof the invention.

Figure 17 illustrates, as in the cases of Figs. and 10, that the spikemay be comprised by two separate sections instead of by a single lengthof bar stock bent upon itself.

According to the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 18 to 20,the loop C is disposed at the inner side of the shank A instead of atthe outer side of said shank as in the previously illustrated anddescribed forms of the invention. At the top of the shank A the innerply In of said shank is coiled inwardly one or more times to provide theloop C and finally is extended downwardly to provide the arm B. On theother hand, the outer ply I I at the top of the shank is bent intooverlying relationship to the initially inwardly bent portion of theinner ply, as indicated at l5, to provide a two-ply driving head, andthen is extended downwardly and outwardly across the shank in the formof an arm 20 for permissible contact with the top face of the tie, ortie plate, as the case may be, to limit driving of the spike.

Obviously, according to all forms of the invention, the two-ply shank Ais strong and stifi while the arm, or arms, B is, or are, much moreresilient than would be the case if the spike were formed from bar stockhaving the same cross sectional area as the shank.

Without further description it is thought that the features andadvantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled inthe art, and it will, of course, be understood that changes in the form,proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A rail spike comprising a stiff two-ply shank, at least one of saidplies, at the upper end of the shank, being first bent upon itself toprovide a resilient loop, and being then extended from said loop in theform of a rail flange overlying, engaging and holding arm resilientlyconnected with the upper end of the shank by said loop, the other ply,at the upper end of the shank, being bent into overlying relationship toan upper end portion of the first mentioned ply to provide a twoplydriving head.

2. A rail spike comprising a shank composed of inner and outer plies ofmaterial, at least one of said plies, at the upper end of the shank,being first bent upon itself to provide a resilient loop, and being thenextended from said loop in the fo rm of a rail flange overlying,engaging and holding arm resiliently connected with the upper end of theshank by said loop, the other ply, at the upper end of the shank, beingbent into overlying relationship to an upper end portion of the firstmentioned ply to provide a two-ply driving head.

3. A rail spike comprising a shank composed of inner and outer plies ofmaterial, the outer ply, at the upper end of the shank, being first bentoutwardly and downwardly and then upon itself to provide a resilientloop, and then being extended inwardly from said loop across the side ofsaid shank in the form of a rail flange overlying, engaging and holdingarm resiliently connected with the upper end of the shank by said loop,the inner ply, at the upper end of the shank, being bent intooverlyingrelationship to an upper end portion of the outer ply to provide atwo-ply driving head. 1

Y 4. A rail spike comprising a shank composed of inner and outer pliesof material, the outer ply, at the upper end of the shank, being firstbent outwardly and downwardly and then upwardly and inwardly'upon itselfto provide a resilient loop, and then being extended inwardly from thetop portion of said loop across the side of said shank in the form of arail flange overlying, engaging and holding arm resiliently connectedwith the upper end of said shank by said loop.

5. A rail spike comprising a shank composed of inner and outer plies ofmaterial, the outer ply,

at the upper end of the shank, being first bent outwardly and downwardlyand then upwardly and inwardly upon itself to provide a resilient loop,and then being extended inwardly from the top portion of said loopacross the side of said shank in the form of a rail flangeoverlying,engaging and holding arm resiliently connected with the upper end ofsaid shank by said loop, the inner ply, at the upper end of the shank,being bent into overlying relationship to an upper end portion of theouter ply to provide a two-ply driving head.

6. A rail spike comprising a shank composed of inner and outer plies ofmaterial, each of said plies, at the upper end of the shank, being firstbent upon itself to provide a resilient loop, and being then extendedfrom said loop in the form of a rail flange overlying, engaging andholding arm resiliently connected with the upper end of the shank by itsrelated loop, one of said plies being disposed in overlying relationshipto the other ply at the upper end of the shank to provide a two-plydriving head.

7. A rail spike comprising a shank composed of inner and outer plies ofmaterial, each of said plies, at the upper end of the shank, being firstbent upon itself to provide a resilient loop, and being then extendedfrom said loop in the form of a rail flange overlying, engaging andholding arm resiliently connected with the upper end of the shank by itsrelated loop, said arms extending inwardly across opposite sides of saidshank, respectively, one of said plies being disposed in overlyingrelationship to the other ply at the upper end of the shank to provide atwo-ply driving head.

8. A rail spike comprising a shank composed of inner and outer plies ofmaterial, the inner ply, at the upper end of the shank, being firstcoiled inwardly to provide a resilient loop, and being then extendedfrom said loop in the form of a rail flange overlying, engaging andholding arm resiliently connected with the upper end of the shank bysaid loop.

9. A rail spike comprising a shank composed of inner and outer plies ofmaterial, the inner ply, at the upper end of the shank, being firstcoiled inwardly to provide a resilient loop, and being then extendedfrom said loop in the form of a rail flange overlying, engaging andholding arm resiliently connected with the upper end of the shank bysaid loop, the outer ply, at the upper end of the shank, being bent intooverlying relationship to an upper end portion of the inner ply toprovide a two-ply driving head.

10. A rail spike comprising a shank composed of inner and outer plies ofmaterial, the inner ply, at the upper end of the shank, beingfirstcoiled inwardly to provide a resilient loop, and being thenextended from said loop in the form of a rail flange overlying, engagingand holding arm resiliently connected with the upper end of the shank bysaid loop, the outer ply, at the upper end of the shank, being firstbent into overlying relationship to an upper end portion of the innerply to provide a two-ply driving head and being then extended outwardlyacross the shank in the form of an arm to engage the upper face of a tieor tie plate to limit driving of the spike.

11. A rail spike comprising a shank composed of inner and outer plies ofmaterial, the inner ply, at the upper end of the shank, being first bentoutwardly and downwardly and being then coiled outwardly, upwardly andinwardly to provide a resilient loop, and being then extended inwardlyacross the shank in the form of a rail flange overlying, engaging andholding aran resiliently connected with the upper end of the shank bysaid loop.

12. A rail spike comprising a shank composed of inner and outer plies ofmaterial, the inner ply, at the upper end of the shank, being first bentoutwardly and downwardly and being then coiled outwardly, upwardly andinwardly to provide a resilient loop, and being then extended inwardlyacross the shank in the form of a rail flange overlying engaging andholding arm resilently connected with the upper end of the shank by saidloop, the inner ply, at the upper end of the shank, being bent intooverlying relationship to the outwardly bent portion of the outer ply atthe upper end of the shank to provide a two-ply driving head.

13. A rail spike comprising a two-ply shank, at least one of said pliesat the upper end of the shank being bent upon itself to provide an openresilient loop and then extended from said loop, at one side of thevertical plane of the shank, in the form of a rail flange overlying,engaging and holding arm resiliently connected with the upper end of theshank by the said loop, and the other ply being disposed in overlying relationship to an upper end portion of the first mentioned ply to providea two-ply driving head.

VICTOR C. ARMSTRONG.

